Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Printer-Friendly Version

ESA-WHD New Release: [09/13/2000]
Contact Name: Brad Mitchell or Juan Solano
Phone Number: (312) 353-6976
Release Number: 09-13-00

Restaurant Associates Of Cincinnati Inc. And Desili Enterprises Inc. Fined $34,500 For Alleged Child Labor Violations

Chicago, IL — The U.S. Department of Labor has fined Restaurant Associates of Cincinnati Inc. and Desili Enterprises Inc. $34,500 for allegedly violating child labor laws at six locations in southwestern Ohio.

Restaurant Associates of Cincinnati Inc. does business as Burger King at 7782 Dudley Drive in West Chester; 9640 Mason Montgomery Rd. and 558 Kings Mill Rd., in Mason; and 7331 Kenwood and 1340 East Kemper Road in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Desili Enterprises Inc. does business as Burger King at 723 Main St., Lebanon, Ohio.

The Department's Wage and Hour Division alleged that the firms employed 34 minors, ages 14 and 15, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Three minors allegedly worked in a prohibited occupation. Thirty-four minors worked more hours or later in the evening than permitted by federal regulations that protect young workers.

"Young teens should gain valuable work experience. However, vulnerable children should not work during hours, nor in occupations, that subject them to dangers," said Wage and Hour District Director Richard M. Malloy in Columbus.

Three minors worked on broilers. Under certain conditions, cooking occupations are prohibited for minors under 16.

Thirty-four minors, ages 14 and 15, worked during prohibited hours. Some minors worked later than 11 p.m. or more than nine hours a day.

The firms have 15 days to contest the fines. The matter will then be referred for a hearing before a Labor Department administrative law judge.

The protection of child workers both in the U.S. and abroad is one of Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman's top priorities. Secretary Herman's Safe Work/Safe Kids initiative attempts to help ensure that teens have safe and positive work experiences that do not compete with their education. The initiative, now in its second year, embraces a strategy of enhanced enforcement, increased education, strong partnerships, and heightened public awareness to increase compliance with federal child labor laws.

The Wage and Hour Division enforces federal child labor laws. The regulations detail hours that minors under 16 may work and specify hazardous occupations prohibited for minors under the age of 18.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) allows 14 and 15-year-olds to work outside school hours, but not later than 7:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. from June 1 until Labor Day). They may work no more than three hours on school days, and no more than 18 hours in a school week. These minors may work up to eight hours on non-school days, or 40 hours during non-school weeks.

For more information about Safe Work/Safe Kids, the child labor provisions, or any other provision of the FLSA, contact the nearest Wage and Hour Division office listed in your telephone directory or log onto www.dol.gov/esa/whd.

The information in this news release will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (312) 353-6976; TDD Message Referral Phone: 1-800-800-4571.